Daniel Appelman is just concluding being a technology lawyer in a Silicon Valley law firm. His undergraduate degree is in English literature. "I worked as a longshoreman on the docks in San Francisco and as a professor of cinema before I went to law school," he said. "My work with the ABA has been one of the most rewarding experiences as a lawyer."
March 25, 2022
Six Questions With Daniel Appelman
What was your first leadership post in the Section, and what’s a favorite Section memory you’d like to share?
I joined the Section’s International Human Rights Committee and one of its chairs nominated me to be a vice chair almost immediately. At the time, I knew very little about human rights law but hoped that the Committee would help me up the learning curve, which it did.
One of my favorite Section memories is attending the UN Day. I flew from California to New York in order to attend it. It was a fascinating program. We met with high-ranking UN officials and with the US delegation. It also gave me my first opportunity to meet several Section officers face-to-face. Hopefully, we’ll get past COVID and the Section’s UN day will resume.
What’s your favorite city to revisit, and where do you want to go most that you haven’t been to yet?
I’d love to revisit Bogota. I lived there for a year after completing my MA degree. I taught cinema studies at the University of the Andes. Colombia is a country of such rich diversity: geographically, culturally, economically and racially.
I’d like to visit Africa, particularly Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa. I’m interested in human rights (and the lack thereof) in Africa.
If you could take the whole Section out for a meal, we would have….?
Anything vegetarian. I’m not vegetarian myself. But I think I should be, because meat production is a huge contributor to climate change. I’d like to impress on Section members (and myself) how one can eat well without hurting the environment
What’s one thing you do for your mental and emotional wellbeing?
Two things, actually. A long hike in the woods will do it; and playing with my three year old grandson—even better.
What are you reading/watching/listening to that you would recommend?
Fragile Earth—a collection of essays from the New Yorker magazine.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I’d like COVID to go away so I could resume a more normal routine. I’m sure all of us feel the same way.